Savin' the Honky Tonk

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Music ratings Savin' the Honky Tonk is the eleventh studio album by American country music artist Mark Chesnutt. His first album for the Vivaton! label, it features the singles "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man", "I'm a Saint", and "A Hard Secret to Keep", which reached numbers 34, 33, and 59, respectively, on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Three of this album's tracks were previously recorded by other artists. "Beer, Bait, and Ammo" was originally recorded by its writer, Kevin Fowler, on his 2000 album of the same name, and later by Sammy Kershaw on his 2003 album I Want My Money Back. Fowler also recorded "The Lord Loves the Drinkin' Man" on his 2004 album Loose, Loud & Crazy. "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" was originally recorded by Keith Whitley on his 1988 album Don't Close Your Eyes.

The people pictured on the album cover include all of Chesnutt's road band and crew.

Production

• Jimmy Ritchey – producer
• Clarke Schleicher – engineer, mixing
• Erik Hellerman – overdub recording, assistant engineer
• J.C. Monterrosa – assistant engineer
• Rich Hanson – mix assistant
• Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering Studios, Inc. (Portland, Maine)
• Mike "Frog" Griffith – production assistant
• Bill Tyler – art direction, design
• Russ Harrington – photography
• Suzy Kipp – stylist

Personnel

As listed in liner notes.

• Mark Chesnutt – lead vocals
• John Barlow Jarvis – acoustic piano
• B. James Lowry – acoustic guitar
• Brent Mason – electric guitar
• Jimmy Ritchey – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tic tac bass
• Paul Franklin –steel guitar, dobro
• Glenn Worf – bass
• Eddie Bayers – drums
• Larry Franklin – fiddle
• Wes Hightower – backing vocals
• John Wesley Ryles – backing vocals
• Lee Ann Womack – backing vocals on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"

Chart performance

Chart (2004)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums	23
U.S. Billboard 200	70
U.S. Billboard Independent Albums	15